In the last 40 years, honey bees have been struggling and populations are declining. Changing climate patterns, herbicides and pesticides, and genetic modification of crops are thought to be potential contributing factors but more research is needed. Honey bees pollinate essential crops and produce millions of dollars of honey every year – one out of every three bites of food Americans consume comes from a plant visited by bees or other pollinators. With nearly 50 percent population losses being reported thus far in 2017, action is needed now more than ever.

That’s why GloryBee launched the “Save the Bee” initiative in 2012, which is a social impact program that focuses on directly supporting research and raising awareness to combat honey bee health issues. A key component of this important initiative is bringing people together to work in unison to help save the declining honey bee population. GloryBee’s SAVE the BEE 5K unites our local central Oregon community and raises funds for critical honey bee research.

Registration for the third annual SAVE the BEE Fun Run and is still open for applicants.